The Story a Last Word

I have enjoyed reading and summarizing The Story with you. I hope you have grown in your trust of our living God. Enjoy this chapter-by-chapter summary of God’s storyline for humanity.

In Jesus,

Randy Russell

1. Creation by God; people in His Own image; selfish sin by humans
2. Abraham living by faith: for a place, a son & becoming a nation
3. Joseph: you meant it for evil, God used it for good
4. Moses drawn out of the water; Israel drawn out of Egypt
5. The Law from God; a golden calf against God; the place of meeting
6. Forty years of wandering; Moses passes the torch of leadership
7. Joshua- the taking of the Promised Land by the exiles
8. Judges- regional rescuers vs doing what is right in their own eyes
9. Ruth makes herself available to be redeemed
10. From regional silos to a national quest for a king
11. David brings a united kingdom
12. As a man after God’s own heart David rebounds back to God
13. Solomon, a promising life unfulfilled
14. The one kingdom becomes two
15. Elijah & Elisha- prophets displaying God and challenging kings
16. A few good prophets in a dying Israel
17. Israel & Judah fall and are exiled to foreign lands
18. Daniel- no serving of foreign gods
19. Returning to the land- there is no place like home
20. Esther- God uses a beauty contest to save the Jewish people
21. Living with boundaries- the Law and the city walls
22. The Gospels- What child is Jesus?
23. Jesus came preaching the good news & healing people
24. Jesus gave an invitation and challenge to enter the kingdom
25. Jesus is more than a man, He is the Son of God
26. Jesus died an intentional, preventable death…but it was God’s will
27. Up from the grave He arose and the resurrection message
28. Acts- Jesus returns through His church
• The gospel goes Mediterranean
• Return mission trips expand the church
29. Pastorals- Paul mentors as he pours out his life as a drink offering
30. Revelation- Our God Reigns

Chapter Thirty-one

The week of August 26


The End Time

There are many differences and much discussion about Jesus' return for His own people. The when and the how are debatable, but the what: that Jesus is coming again to the earth for His people, is certain. When He comes, we go. Various prophesies in the Old Testament and descriptions in the New Testament (like 1 & 2 Thessalonians and the Gospels) tell of this event. In some places it seems like life will be just normal before this happens (people will be marrying and giving others to marry). At other times it seems catastrophic (earthquakes, wars, in-fighting, & immorality).

The Bible ends with the Book of Revelation written by the Apostle John. He wrote to seven churches in the province of Asia (modern Turkey) from his exile on the Isle of Patmos. Much of this is symbolic, but symbolism does have a correlation with the reality of what will happen.

PP 459-62 John wrote on behalf of the One on the throne, Jesus the faithful witness, and the Spirit: Look, He is coming on the clouds. Every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of Him. Spectacular sights and descriptions followed: The Son of Man among seven lampstands (churches), eyes like blazing fire and a voice like rushing waters. These seven churches each received a dictated letter from Jesus through John. Their messages apply to us today.

All the churches had something that was positive: deeds, hard work, perseverance, intolerance of wickedness, testing truth-tellers, not growing weary. They each had at least one thing that was wrong with them: forsaken their first love, did not repent, being dead, neither hot nor cold. These positive and negative qualities also represent modern day strengths and weaknesses of churches. Which of these are most familiar to you?

PP 462-6 John then received the vision of the end of the world as we know it. A vision of the throne of God was multi-sensory and almost too rich for John’s eyes. All of creation, from jewels and colors to thunder and lightning, from angels to elders to four living creatures like nothing we have ever seen, were all worshiping God: Glory, honor and thanks to Him Who sits on the throne and Who lives forever. Why is God awe-inspiring and not awe-ful (or fearful)?

Various seals were broken unraveling the scrolls. The Lamb Who was slain was standing at the center of the throne and received praise and worship from all who were alive, millions of people and angels. A wedding and banquet were about to happen, with Jesus as the groom and those who believe in Him, the church as His bride. Then Jesus appeared on a white horse, as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You just have to be there.

PP 266-70 Amidst the revelation of the majesty of Jesus, the powers of the earth and the unseen powers of the heavens connive to take control. This Armageddon takes place at Meddigo in Northern Israel. Sometime before, during, or after the worst of this conflict, Jesus will descend from the clouds to meet believers in the air, first those who have died in the Lord and then those who are still alive. We who believe in the Lord Jesus will be with Him from that point thru forever. Satan will be bound, some say for a thousand years, some say for forever. Those who practiced evil will be consigned to a permanently desolate place.

Death, Hades, mourning, crying and pain will be banished. All things will be brand new. A city, consisting of indescribable beauty, then descended to house the people (in my Father's house are many mansions). God's people live in His presence in the City. Full sustainability is present, which crops and light and life. Why is heaven better than vacation or retirement?

Then Jesus, the Root and Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star, the Alpha and Omega, the First and Last, the Beginning and End, offers His free gift of the Water of Life, His very self.

These things will soon take place; Jesus is coming very soon. All we can do is to say with God's people: Amen. Come Lord Jesus.


If you have followed The Story and these weekly comments, you may want to share your insights with us. How has your understanding of God and His Story changed over these 32 weeks? Please send your comments to Randy Russell at RNRussell@att.net

Chapter Thirty

The week of August 20


Paul's Final Days

Paul was hurrying to go to Jerusalem to bring the Jewish believers an offering to help with the drought they were experiencing. He had missed the connection for Passover but was hoping to make it by Pentecost.

Pp 439-440 Paul met the elders of Ephesus and charged them to shepherd the flock well. There was a sense of foreboding. Paul mentioned that none of them would ever see him again. Later in Caesarea the prophet Agabus demonstrably told Paul that he would be bound and handed over to the Gentiles. The people tried to prevent Paul from going but Paul said he would do the Lord’s will, even if it meant his death.

Pp 441-46 Paul then returned to Jerusalem, the scene of his training under Gamaliel, who gave him his aspiration to follow the Law and root out apostasy in his former days as a Pharisee. But now he was a radically changed person.

Rabble-rousers found a great opportunity as Paul had been seen with Greeks at other parts of the city but not at the Temple. So they rioted and partitioned Paul from getting help until the Roman soldiers rescued him. He asked for the opportunity to speak in Hebrew to the crowd. Paul proceeded to explain how he got to Jerusalem, beginning with his conversion in Damascus. When he reached the part of being sent to the Gentiles, bedlam broke out. Paul's Roman citizenship was helpful to him as the Roman legion again saved him.

Paul had further opportunity to tell his own response to the gospel story. He stood before the Sanhedrin and challenged a major difference between the Sadducees and Pharisees. The latter, like Paul, believe in the personal resurrection of each person's body. Again, a great dispute ensued. Paul was ensured the Lord's protection though an assassination trap had been set. Paul was evacuated to Caesarea by night.

Over two years, Paul appeared before the Roman governors Festus & Felix, as well as King Herod Agrippa II. No one could find fault yet no one would release him. Paul, sensing another plot, used his Roman citizenship and appealed to Caesar. And to Caesar he would go.

Pp 447-52 The centurion in charge of Paul and the prisoners took a liking to Paul on the passage to Rome. After some dangerous sailing they arrived at Fair Havens near Crete. Paul tried to forestall moving forward until Spring but he was overruled. The 276 on board were out at sea in the middle of a multi-week storm. Paul was an encouraging man in the midst of this storm, challenging people to eat and that all would be well. All 276 made it safely.

Washed ashore on an island, the local people trusted Paul as he did not die when a snake wrapped itself around him. He performed some healing miracles and wintered there. Finally arriving in Rome, he was warmly welcomed by believers. Paul was under house arrest for two more years. He used the opportunity to boldly preach the kingdom of God.

Pp 452-6 Paul was in Rome with only a little freedom of movement. People would come to him for teaching and encouragement. He also provided these gifts to other places where he had started churches by writing letters. One of those churches was in Ephesus, where he had spent three years.

His opening chapter was a 23-verse praise to God for what He had done in the life, by the death & resurrection of Jesus Christ. Listen to some of the action words: God chose, holy & blameless, predestined, adoption to sonship, glorious grace, redemption through His blood, forgiveness of sins, riches of God's grace lavished on us, the mystery of His will, bring unity in all things, the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, glorious inheritance, raised Christ from the dead, seated at God's right hand, put all things under His feet, the Head of the church, His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all things. Christ's Identity with the Father overflows to us.

We had been estranged from God as sinners and away from His promises as Gentiles. But Christ has brought the two groups together into one new identity. May we understand what that means. He has given us gifts to live out as believers, and when we do we live out the fullness of Christ.

In practical ways we are to live out our callings in the station of life we are in: toward leaders, economically, as men and women in marriage, and as children. When we do so we parallel the honor Christ has for His Father and the love He has for the church. And there is dangerous spiritual warfare out there: so we are to be careful and use our protective armor.

Pp 456-8 Paul was likely released from his arrest and had freedom to travel with the gospel for about five years. He ultimately was incarcerated in Rome, awaiting his death when he wrote 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. These were personal, mentor letters to those whom he loved. He spoke of Timothy's value, suffering, and companionship. He challenged Timothy run the good race and fight the good fight. He reminded how the Scriptures, which nurtured Timothy as a young person, were just as powerful to live out as a maturing adult. They are God-breathed and useful in discipling the believer.

Paul died soon after writing 2 Timothy. He had planted the gospel throughout the northern Mediterranean and this was replicated throughout the known world. He wrote 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. Others wrote with specialized topics: John about love, 5 books; Peter about action, 2 books; Luke historically, 2 books; and five other writers wrote one book each. Together they gave a picture of Jesus and His ministry (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John), the early church (Acts), practical Christian living (the letters) and a peek into the future (Revelation).

Chapter Twenty-nine (Part 2)

The week of August 12


Paul's Mission, Part 2. PP 421-437

Saul/Paul of Tarsus had been anointed by God to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles throughout the Roman Empire. After a crisis conversion and an initial immersion to this task, Paul went on multiple Mediterranean trips spreading the news. As some embraced the good news others tried (like Saul had previously) to obliterate it. But God's message would prevail.

Pp 421-3 Paul stayed about three years in Ephesus. For three months he spoke powerfully about God's kingdom in the synagogue. When the Jews rebuffed him, Paul went to the nearby hall and lectured to the Greeks…for two years. Healing miracles and dramatic personality changes happened to confirm Paul's message. The Name of Jesus became held in high regard.

Finally a silversmith, whose living was jeopardized as the gospel made the local religious trade marginal, began a disturbance that turned into a near riot. Finally a wise city clerk disbanded the crowd, just as the believer's had prevented Paul from being involved. (Is it important to know when to speak as well as to know when to be silent?) Paul was immediately sent on to Macedonia by the believers.

Pp 423-9 While Paul had been in Ephesus, he wrote several letters to the believers in Corinth. While being known for their worldliness, by Paul the Corinthians were addressed as holy people, because, like all believers, they had been set apart as holy by God. Paul called for them to live in unity, not following individual leaders tribally, but the Risen Christ solely. The various teachers had laid a foundation, each doing their part. All were necessary. In a sexually permissive city, the Corinthians were to flee from this antithetical attitude and practice. Since they were called to be holy, they should live that way. Sexual sins ruined the believer's personal body and they ruined the Body of Christ, of which every believer was a part.

The Spirit of Jesus was in each of them and in all of them together. There was no reason to compete with their various spiritual gifts, as every person had at least one given by God and they were all necessary to express the diversity of God's Body and the unity of working together. The same Spirit united the various ethnic and religious backgrounds into the Temple where God lived by His Spirit (1 Cor 12:13). You ARE the Body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it. What God has put together let no one divide asunder. The overarching principle was Love. Nothing makes sense unless the Love by which God reached His church through His Son and Spirit is then cascaded within the church and into the known world. God's Love must prevail (it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres; it NEVER fails).

The Gospel was well-received and the resurrected Jesus was attested by eyewitness accounts among the early believers, up to 500 at one time. His resurrection had validated the hope of the resurrection of all believers until He comes again. Jesus is the Resurrection, the believers who have died are the firstfruits of this as they are raised to join those alive to meet Him in the air. At this consummation of the Age the Son completes His mission in conjunction with the Father. The courage to continue is predicated on the finished work of Jesus.

Pp 429-31 As in any nascent movement, trouble not only comes from without, but from within as members distort truths. The Christian faith had this happen as well. Judaizers, people wanting believers to do practice as work for God, would follow up where Paul had been to distort his words and challenge his authority. Paul had already written to the Galatian churches, in present-day Turkey. He boldly proclaimed the teaching that people need not become Jewish but trust in Jesus alone. Trust led to new identity in Jesus which led to changed perspectives, including hearts that desired to serve the living God (Eph 2:8-10) There was no other Gospel or no other Name by which humans must be saved.

The Law was not the present means of following God but was a tutor to lead people to Jesus, God's fulfillment of the Law. Our religious past or ethnic bearings or gender identity are not who we really are: we are really One in Christ Jesus. We again take off the 'clothing' of fleshly living and put on the clothing of Spirit-likeness. We keep in step with the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Pp 431-7 Paul had not yet made it to Rome, the Empire epicenter, by AD 57, though he greatly desired to do so. An embryonic church had formed, though others had left by persecution (like Priscilla and Aquilla). Paul loved these believers by faith, passing on a love and a clarity of God's work in society that would benefit Rome and the church over the centuries.

Paul declared to the Romans that he was not ashamed of the Gospel for it was the power of God to all who believed. God's righteousness was declared and revealed as the righteous live by faith. God is proven True. Paul went on to share how God had used to Law to declare all people guilty then atoned for if they believed in Jesus. Abraham did not live by the Law; he was atoned by faith before the Law was given.

God has done this by providing the penalty and the cure. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. If He loved us while sinners, won't He still love us while saved? What we were powerless to do, God did. So our sufferings are not a consequence of living against God. It is our training to know what it means to follow God. He causes all things to come together for good. There is No Condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Nothing can separate us from His love. Not even ourselves.

Because of this strong grounding, we are to be alive sacrifices, continually transforming our minds through this new identity. Then we will get along with each other, utilizing our differing gifts in a complimentary fashion. Love begets a heart change which begets action.

The Romans were to know of Paul's love for them and his desire to eventually join them. But he was to first take a love offering to the believers in Jerusalem, suffering through a paucity of food. Paul would reciprocate the love that originally sent him to the Gentiles with a return gift to the mother church.

Paul would eventually make it to Rome. Little did he know the stormy path he would sail.

God tapped Paul to leave his belligerence to Jesus and become a volunteer slave to Jesus. If Paul had resisted, God may have provided a different way. How can God use you to be a light for Jesus in your world? Have you considered that you are God's way.

Chapter Twenty-eight

The week of July 29


New Beginnings

If you were God, how would start a new movement among your people? You had already dealt individually with people at the beginning of human history. You had from one couple already formed a nation that was to represent your values and draw the nations to yourself. You had already sent prophets to call that nation back to you. You had already sent Your Son to dramatically show Who you were and then He was killed on a cross. So…what would you do?

God raised His Son and seated Him at His right side. He then sent the Spirit of His Son to indwell individual people and groupings of people called out (Greek: ekklesia) to live together the life of His Son on the earth. That’s what God the Father through His Son has done in sending His Spirit to the church.

Pp 389-90 The remaining disciples did not know how many more appearances they would have of Jesus. They did not know the times of His restoration of Israel. But Jesus challenged them: they were His eyewitnesses in the ever-expanding circles of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria (remember the half-breed religion) to the ends of the earth (think Greeks and gentiles).

After promising His return, Jesus departed to be with His Father.

Pp 390-2 On the Jewish holiday of Pentecost, fifty days following the time of Passover when Jesus had died then was raised to life, the twelve apostles (one had been added to replace Judas) were joined by over 100 others, waiting on God. The sound of a powerful wind was joined with tongues of fire that rested on all of them. They all began to speak in other tongues, known languages. As they went outside they came across many Jewish people from around the known world. Communication of the gospel was in their own tongue, even though those believer's who were sharing the good news never took lessons.

This multicultural experience raised the question: What does this mean? Peter took the forefront and said it was a prediction of the prophet Joel: The pouring out of God's Spirit on all people. He then proceeded to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ: God had accredited His Son Jesus by raising Him to life. We were all eyewitnesses of His rising and the Holy Spirit now poured out. Jesus IS Lord and Messiah.

And what are the people to do? Peter: Repent, be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And receive this same Holy Spirit. Over three thousand accepted the message, were baptized on the spot, and received the Holy Spirit. This large throng listened daily to the apostle's teaching at the Temple, met together in homes to share food, fellowship and prayer. Many more joined them. God had started His movement in Jerusalem.

Pp 392-7 Peter and John on the way to the Temple were accosted by a crippled beggar. They offered no money, but did offer him the ability to walk. Grasping their hands, the man could immediately walk and jump. The result was a crowd that provided another audience opportunity to preach the gospel. Peter was direct and personal in telling that they (a few weeks earlier) had killed Jesus, God's glorified servant. But their sins could be wiped away if they believed in Jesus.

The priests and other Jewish religious folk could hardly stand it. Jesus kept coming up again and again. Peter and John were arrested and asked for their authority to perform this miracle. Another eyewitness opportunity to preach what they had experienced. Peter: It is by the Name of Jesus Messiah, Whom you crucified (hold nothing back), but Whom God raised from the dead…that Jesus, the rejected Cornerstone, is the Name by which the man was healed and the Only Name by which we must be saved.

Here are these unschooled fisherman, out of their league with the intelligentsia, but powerful in their testimony because they had been with Jesus. Peter was not cowering now. But what can they do to Peter and John since everyone knew the healing had happened. The rulers tried to intimidate them to not use the name of Jesus. Peter and John could not agree; they would only tell of the Jesus they knew.

The encounter emboldened the believers and added new members to God's kingdom. This only brought more contention from the rulers. After all the apostles were arrested, God released them and sent them back to preach at the Temple. So they did. Arrested the second time the apostles presented a united message: We will obey God before we will humans. We saw what happened to Jesus…we were eyewitnesses.

A man Gamaliel intervened before the apostles suffered the same fate as Jesus. He said the council should take heed that they are not fighting God. The apostles were flogged and warned not to preach the Name of Jesus. They rejoiced that they were counted worthy of suffering for the Name and continued to proclaim Jesus as Messiah.

Pp 397-401 Other followers of Jesus bore witness to Jesus. Stephen was accosted by a certain synagogue stating he was against the Temple and the Law. Stephen preached to the high priest and others a chronological sermon about how God had lived in the tabernacle and temple. He said Jesus was in a long line of prophets, all of whom their leaders had not followed. These were the lawless ones, murdering the Righteous One, Jesus. Stephen was stoned to death but even that event was a witness to a young man, Saul, who approved the killing.

This led to a dispersion of the believers to Judea and Samaria (remember Jesus' words). Saul took up the cause to annihilate this message of the Way, securing letters to Damascus to take these people back to trial in Jerusalem. On this journey he was struck blind and knocked off his horse by Jesus, Who was being persecuted by Saul (remember, if a believer is at-risk, Jesus is hurt as well).

Simultaneously, the believer Ananias was alerted that he needed to commission Saul to the gentiles. He was brave to go to meet him. Saul learned from the Damascus believers, escaped from that town and began preaching in the name of the Lord Jesus. Ultimately he went to his hometown Tarsus, where he learned the gospel to the gentiles. He would be of great service to the Lord Jesus in just a few years.

Pp 401-3 Meanwhile, Peter learned through a vision that all animals, and all people, are clean if God calls them clean. He went to the home of a Roman centurion, Cornelius, preached the gospel and baptized the extended family. This was hard to swallow for the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, and much talk took place. Peter gave his explanation: who was I to stand in God’s way? So God was welcoming the unclean gentiles into His kingdom!

Pp 403-5 The apostle James was killed by the sword. Peter was arrested again (a fourth time) and was guarded by 16 guards. An angel walked him out of prison and he went to the home where believers were praying for him. Some kind of answered prayer.

King Herod ordered execution for the 16. However, he too came to an ungracious life-end; God gave him his comeuppance because he took credit as being God, when he evidently wasn't.

Through it all the gospel of Jesus was preached & people came to Him.

Chapter Twenty-seven

The week of July 22


The Resurrection

Jesus, a prophet of hope, had died. Didn't we all think he was the messiah? What good is a dead messiah?

Pp 381-2 Jesus was dead. The crowd knew it. The Jewish leaders saw it. The Roman guard who were experienced at crucifixion knew it. The few remaining disciples worst fears were realized. And the women who had supported him were dumbfounded by it. He was dead.

By dying after such a short time on the cross, Jesus' body did not face the same treatment as the other criminals. While speared on His side with water and blood separating, his legs were not broken because he did not need aid to die. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus ('you must be born again') took his body to the rich man's unused garden tomb and roughly prepared the body for burial (75 pounds of spices supporting wrapped linen, like a paper mache').

The Jews remembered Jesus' prediction of rising again so Pilate ordered a guard set at the tomb. The women mentally marked where the tomb was located. What was the heart-set of that day? Have you felt that low?

Pp 382-4 With the weekly Sabbath concluded on Saturday night these women collected more spices and linen to give Jesus a proper burial, with tenderness. Arriving at the tomb at daybreak, they wondered who would remove the massive stone that blocked the entrance. Little did they expect that the angel of the Lord would come through an earthquake to open their way. As someone has said, the tomb was not opened to let Jesus out, but to let others see He was gone. While the grizzled guards were scared to death, the women obeyed the angel and went to tell the disciples.

The message was for the disciples to go to Galilee to meet Jesus, but Peter and John raced to the tomb. They saw the twirled linen and facecloth, made like a cast of the body, but no Jesus. The disciples then left, surely as confused men.

As Mary Magdalene returned and hung nearby, she asked what she supposed to be a gardener of the grounds 'where he might have taken my Lord?'. The intonation with which Jesus spoke 'Mary' made her cast herself on her Teacher. Jesus prodded her to not cling to Him (He had yet to ascend) but to return to the disciples with the news that she had seen the Lord.

Pp 384-6 That evening two unnamed disciples were going on a seven-mile hike to Emmaus. While discussing the amazing things that had happened, including the supposed sightings of Jesus, they were joined by another Man. Saddened, they told of their hope in Jesus and the events leading to that hour. The Stranger spoke of the necessity for the Messiah to suffer according to prophesy in the Law and Prophets.

Having been asked to join them for dinner, the Stranger broke bread and then disappeared. The two belatedly recognized they had been in Jesus' presence and their minds and hearts were enlightened by His presence. Immediately they ran to tell the apostles in the upper room.

There was disbelief in that lot of men until Jesus appeared in their locked-down presence: Peace be with you. He asked for food, though He did not need any. He showed the nail imprints on his hands, feet, and side. He was not a mirage …He was the risen Christ. His message was what He had predicted: The Christ should suffer, rise from the dead, and have repentance preached for the forgiveness of sins into all of the nations of the world. These men were witnesses.

Chapter Twenty-nine (Part 1)

The week of August 5


Paul's Mission, part 1, pp 407-21

The good news about Jesus has moved from Jerusalem to synagogues throughout the Roman Empire. At Antioch along the Mediterranean Sea the Way formed a safe haven for Jews and Greeks. Leaders of various backgrounds taught the multi-ethnic church. The Spirit set apart, and the church confirmed Barnabus and Saul to take the message to the rest of the continent that would become Europe.

Pp 407-9 Arriving at Cyprus they went to what they felt would be sympathetic listeners, Jews in the synagogue. As with the miracles of Jesus, they used sign-gifts as billboards to show the truth and love of God. A sorcerer opposed them. The sorcerer was thwarted and became blind, leading to others coming to faith. Saul, who began using the Greek name Paul, preached the death and resurrection of Jesus as attested by witnesses. People could be forgiven and made right with God. On ensuing Sabbaths the whole city heard the message. Some Jews who disbelieved the message stirred up trouble and had Paul & Barnabus expelled from the area. This would become a familiar story.

Pp 410-14 On to Iconium the pair traveled, going to the local synagogues and entering into dialogue. The message had a polarizing affect, with some believing and forming a connecting group, while others were opposed and scandalized the duo with the followers.

At Lystra a lame man was welcomed to walk. While the crowd thought they were the Greek Gods Zeus and Hermes. Paul & Barnabus kept them from making sacrifices to them and the issue went South as people turned on them and stoned Paul. The believer's from Lystra prayed for Paul and helped him find shelter.

At Derbe the next day Paul began revisiting all they had found in Christ at the various cities. It had been a journey well-spent and people were eager to hear about Jesus. If you were with Paul, what would you say were the take-homes from the journey?

A serious breach was beginning to form. Did these Gentiles who were responding to Jesus need to become Jews and follow the whole Law, or was there another way? Serious believers were on both sides. Eventually Paul, Peter, and James, the Lord's half-brother challenged the apostles and elders in Jerusalem that grace through faith meant accepting the Gentiles without pre-qualification of law performance.

Unity in doctrine and fellowship does not necessarily mean unity of purpose. Paul and Barnabus 'departed asunder' (KJV), over whether John Mark should accompany them on the second journey. Each group went their own way but it ultimately meant doubling the witness of the gospel. Paul and his interns went through modern Turkey, and ultimately arrived at Philippi in modern Greece.

Without an identifiable synagogue they went to place of prayer at the river. Lydia, a merchant woman responded to Paul's message and was baptized into Jesus, along with others from her home. Another evil spirit was dismissed from a fortune telling/ slavery scheme and the people affected did not like that the had lost their income.

Paul and Silas, his new companion, were beaten and imprisoned. The two responded with prayer and hymns to God; certainly a strange sight. When an overnight earthquake stuck and the prison doors were flung open, the jailer considered suicide because his life was at-risk. After Paul accounted for all the prisoners, the jailer desperately wanted to know what he must do to be saved. Again, circumstances prompt people to accept the message. The jailer and his family believed and were baptized. Meanwhile Paul was beaten without recourse though being a Roman citizen. Paul appreciated the escort he received out of the city.

Pp 414-6 Paul and his entourage ended up in Thessalonica and they went to the synagogue. The results were predictable. Some believed (though present only three weeks, Paul shared the gospel and his very life (1 Thess 2:8), while others created a riot. The same reasoning as the charges against Jesus came to Paul: he says there is another King called Jesus. City officials did not warm up to potential of riots. Paul escaped this and moved on to Berea, receptive thinkers, and Athens, philosophical panderers, always questioning but never believing.

Paul moved on to Corinth. Aquila & Priscilla, fellow tent-makers and Italian evacuees, co-habitated with Paul and joined in serving God's cause, persuading both Jews and Greeks. When the Jews of the synagogue contested the message, Paul left them to work exclusively with the Gentiles. Nonetheless, some Jews were still intrigued and followed Jesus. Paul stayed in Corinth eighteen months and taught the believers from the Older Covenant. Wouldn’t you like to have been a fly on that wall?

Pp 416-9 Paul had begun to write to some of the churches he had started, both to keep in touch and to instruct them, usually challenging erroneous teaching they were facing. We are very fortunate for these letters as we capture the sense of the New Testament church and have the truth of the Scriptures expanded into this new era. Paul, writing from Corinth, wrote his first epistle to Thessalonica c 51AD.

Beyond the foundational teaching and practical application, they were having issues with the second coming of the Lord Jesus. Some had felt it had happened and that they had missed their own resurrection from the dead. Paul assured that this had not already happened and that they should prepare their hearts and lives, alert for the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God preceding the meeting of our Lord in the air. What was it like to receive that letter?!

Pp 420-1 While in Corinth for eighteen months, Paul encouraged believers not to escape their culture but to avoid being overrun by their world-sotten society. And he always preached Christ and Him crucified. Paul was again attacked for persuading people to worship God in a manner contrary to the Law. As he later stated, Paul was attacked both by his own people, the Jews, and the people God was also seeking, the Gentiles. Extracted from the impending skirmish, Paul was sent out of town by the believers and went to Ephesus. Then on to Jerusalem and Antioch, building the believers and encouraging with stories of people turning to the Living God. Paul's reputation was preceding him and would ultimately become his Achilles heel.

Chapter Twenty-five

The week of July 8


Jesus the Son of God

Jesus certainly became well known and drew a crowd to His teaching and healing. But His goal was not popularity, but allegiance from His followers. He had authority but wanted people to be disciples not merely of His teaching, but to give Him their personal loyalty. His claim was not just as the greatest person who ever lived, but direct lineage with His Father God…He was the Son of God.

PP 353-5 After many months living among the twelve and through the small towns of Galilee Jesus asked His disciples about their knowledge of Him: Who do people say that I am? Who do you say that I am?

Peter was the first to speak and was often wrong at other times, but this time he was right: You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God. Jesus used this occasion to confirm this but warned the disciples that He would suffer, rejected and killed, only to be raised again. Peter protested against this but Jesus showed that God’s plan doesn’t always match with man’s ways. (Jesus often told of His identity, the news that He would die by the Jewish authorities, and that people were not to tell this to others. Why?) In fact, a disciple of Jesus must deny their own interests and take up their cross (an agent of death) to follow Him. Why was Peter correct in his first response and wrong in his second? Why do we want the authoritative Jesus but not the suffering One? Why are we averse to suffering in our following Jesus?

Close to a week later a transfiguration took place in which the three closest disciples witnessed a transfigured Jesus conversing with Moses and Elijah about His exodus, or His departure from the earth. Imagine being in this dreamy state and awakening to speak. We might have been like Peter in wanting to build three tents to prolong the experience.

Pp 355-8 Controversy surrounded Jesus. Would he be public in Jerusalem or not? Was he the Messiah or not? Would He be arrested or not? Jesus used these times to introduce important topics, such as: If thirsty people believe in Me, rivers of living water will flow from within them (speaking of His Holy Spirit).

Jesus spoke other shocking things. He was the Light of the world. He would go to a place that others could not follow. He was the Truth; His disciples would know that truth and be set free. Before Abraham, the founding patriarch even existed, Jesus said: I AM. This was a direct claim to deity for earlier God had said He was I AM to Moses. People predictably picked up rocks to stone Jesus, but He slipped away.

PP 358-61  Near the end of His ministry Jesus was given word that His friend Lazarus was sick but He deliberately did not go to him. Then word came that Lazarus had died and Jesus did go to Bethany, even though Bethany was close to the hotbed Jerusalem.

Jesus expressed compassion at the graveside of Lazarus, brother to followers Mary & Martha. He also expressed authority to have the concealing rock removed from the tomb so the resuscitated Lazarus could rejoin his family, four days after he had died! This miracle was a billboard directing people to see Jesus and the once-dead Lazarus. The miracle doubled the efforts of the religious authorities in Jerusalem to kill Jesus so their freedom of movement would not be taken from them by the Romans. How does one action produce such opposite results?

Pp 361-3  Jesus was unafraid of the authorities and acted like Himself at all times. He welcomed children to sit with Him while the disciples thought: He was too busy for that. People must enter His kingdom with the discovery, trusting spirit like children. Rich people have so many things as distractions, it is harder for them to enter the kingdom.

When you do follow, you will be rewarded a hundred times over, including in persecutions. On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus again warned of His impending condemnation by the Jews and death by the gentiles (Romans). His rising after three days was also told. The people of Jerusalem knew of the intrigue. Would Jesus even show?

Pp 363-6  Jesus arrived at Jerusalem for Passover week riding on a donkey, not a stallion. The people cheered Him, praising in Messianic words: Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord. Jesus accepted this praise then went to the Temple and threw out those doing business, who had no place there. At the temple Jesus healed those who came to Him. During the week Jesus taught and the people hung on every word. He even caught the leaders in a conundrum: How could David have called his descendent ‘Lord’?

Jesus continued His calling to trust His heavenly Father. He challenged others to do the same. Meanwhile the stage was set for a dramatic, cosmic encounter: God’s good versus Satan’s evil. The future of humanity would be in the balance.

Chapter Twenty-six

The week of July 15


The Hour of Darkness

Jesus had faced the powers of darkness head-on before, in the wilderness temptations, with the demoniacs and when Peter was trying to prevent Jesus from dying an untimely death. Now the Prince of Darkness and the Prince of Light would have a final conflict surrounding Jesus’ death.

Pp 367-9  Having spent the week in the foothills of Jerusalem and commuting to the Temple template each day, Jesus mentally prepared for Passover, and to give His life as a Passover for sins. In the same unique way the disciples found the foal of a donkey for Palm Sunday, they were instructed to find an upper room, a little secluded place to celebrate Passover.

As the twelve were surrounding Him in that room, Jesus began washing His disciples feet. A servant should be doing this and no one stepped forward to offer this cleansing courtesy. Peter protested and then realized Jesus was serious and that He was symbolically cleansing the disciples. Jesus knew where He had come from and where He was going; His washing of feet was a loving-to-the-end gesture to His own people. He used it as a lesson to the disciples: Do to each other what I have just demonstrated. How may we wash people’s feet in our day? Also, Jesus tipped His hand to identify the betrayer. Judas dipped bread at the same time as Jesus. Then Judas left to betray Him.

Pp 369-71  Jesus portrayed the first Lord’s Table by eating bread and drinking the cup with His men, demonstrating His intentional death for them. What difference does it make knowing that the Lord’s Supper took place in the midst of a meal? He provided security to them by telling He was preparing a place for them. Jesus was the Way to the Father, the Truth of the Father, and the Life of the Father. He was the visible expression of the invisible Father.

Relationship between the Father, Son, Spirit and the followers were described in John 13-17. Jesus had a bitter-sweet time, allaying their sorrow and giving last words for future hope. What would your last words be like at a time like this? Jesus ended this time praying for His disciples and for those who would be future disciples. He wanted them to know the only true God and Jesus, Whom He had sent. And Jesus wanted future disciples to know God loved us, even as He had loved Jesus (John 17:23). Can you absorb the depth of that statement?

Pp 371-3  Leaving the upper room, Jesus led the disciples to the Mount of Olives. Jesus again predicted that they would fall away. Peter was adamant that even if the others did, he would not. Jesus told Peter he would indeed deny Jesus three times. How demoralizing to Peter.

Peter and the Zebedee brothers accompanied Jesus and Peter to Gethsemane. They were to pray for Jesus while He went apart to pray, but the three could not stay awake. This happened three times. Jesus was strengthened by an angel as He prayed with the intensity of sweating blood. Alas, they were again asleep. God was indeed answering Jesus’ prayer: There was no rescue from this situation and He must go on and die for these followers. They needed saving.

Judas led a gang of guards to arrest Jesus. When He identified Himself as Jesus of Nazareth, they fell to the ground. Jesus appealed for them to let the others go but Peter almost was arrested for cutting off a servant’s ear. Jesus brought things to a close as he healed the ear. He had again displayed His authority and the disciples ran for their lives. Jesus did not fight but gave Himself over to the guards.

Pp 374-5  A first trial was held before Caiaphas the high priest and the Sanhedrin. Only when two false witnesses testified that Jesus would destroy the temple (surface info as Jesus meant his own body) was there ‘evidence’ for a capital crime. Jesus claimed His Messiahship, His Sonship at the Father’s right hand, and the fact that He would return. Enough! He was judged as blasphemous, beaten and sentenced to death. 

Peter fulfilled the Lord’s prophecy about denying Him three times and ran away. Judas had a remorse that led to death, throwing the blood money into the temple before he hung himself.

Pp 375-7  The Roman Governor Pontius Pilate was the next judicial stop. Pilate personally questioned the claim that Jesus was the King of the Jews. Pilate saw Jesus as not a political threat and tried to have him released, as customarily happens with a given prisoner. The people chose Barabbas instead, a known insurrectionist and murderer. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, the recognized king and then Jesus was returned to Pilate. He again tried to release Jesus but only heard a rising chorus of ‘Crucify him’. Jesus calm answering made Pilate squeamish but Pilate could not be seen as a weak governor. So he acquiesced to have Jesus crucified.

Pp 378-80  The one to be crucified bore His own cross. When this became too much (sleepless Jesus had been maligned and beaten over several unauthorized trials) Simon from Cyrene was drafted to carry the cross.

While on the cross, Jesus was taunted and abused. ‘Come down off the cross’ was a challenge given to Him. Little did they know that He actually could have done so but that was not His Father’s will. Jesus asked forgiveness for those who were killing Him. Would we have been so generous?

Jesus was crucified with common criminals. Both verbally abused Jesus, but one relented and asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus said he would. 

Jesus would ultimately succumb to asphyxiation. The real cause of His death was the wrath of God coming down on Him, not for His own sins (He had none) but for the sins of the world. Jesus cried out: My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?, both an Old Testament quote and the feeling of abandonment. For the first time ever, the Father turned His back on the Son, only to salvage mankind. Then Jesus gave up His Spirit to the Father.

Remarkable events followed: the thick curtain of the temple tore top to bottom, the earth quaked and dead people were released alive from tombs. It was a memorable day. But it seemed like the end of a hopeful era, not the beginning of one.

Chapter Twenty-four

The week of July 1


No Ordinary Man

Jesus did not have his own home. He occasionally traveled in southern Judah (predominately for festivals), and ventured into Samaria in the middle of Israel, but His predominant ministry was up north in Galilee, particularly in Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. His teaching consisted primarily of stories with somewhat predictable endings. The stories were more obvious to those seeking God and more obscure to those with hardened hearts. Story narratives speak to post-moderns. If you had been there, how would Jesus' stories have spoken to you?

Pp 335-40 Many of Jesus' hearers lived by the soil so He used these topics in His parables, earthly stories with heavenly meanings. One parable spoke of the common seed falling on various kinds of soil. The seed was potent to sprout, but the receptivity of the soil gave opportunity to grow. The moral was to rely on God's changeless message and to be receptive soil in order to multiply growth. In another parable grain ripened when you are not looking, and is reaped sooner than later. In another, a mustard seed, one of the smallest, can grow to be one of the largest plants. Growth is by faith, not by sight.

Jesus spoke of a shepherd looking for his lost sheep, a woman seeking her lost coin equal to ten percent of her worth, and a father who gave his selfish son his inheritance. When the son repentantly returned, the father was grateful, but his other son begrudged the brother's return. This showed the heart of God Who desired sinners to repent, and the heart of the Pharisees, who gloated in keeping people in bondage to man's laws.

Jesus told the story of a man being beaten, robbed and left on the side of the road. While others lacked compassion and passed him by, a man, even a dishonored Samaritan, went out of his way to care for the man and provide for his well-being. Jesus highlighted the person who had mercy on another as being the good neighbor.

Pp 340-3  Jesus gave extended teaching on values of the kingdom. He was the King and this was how He wanted His kingdom to operate. It was an upside/down kingdom in which the servants were elevated and emulated and the proud were reaping what they sowed. People were 'blessed' when they did what God desired. These were the salt (seasoning) of the earth and the light of the world, shining the light on God's way. People were taught to pray in a simple, authentic manner. Forgiveness was in proportion to one's own forgiving. Treasures are not counted in ‘things’ and worry is banished because God cares for us. As birds and flowers represent a caring Creator's provision, we may set aside anxiety and realize God care for us.

Pp 343-6  Jesus used challenging moments in the natural world to make teachable moments. Jesus calmed a storm at sea with His own voice. An out of control, self-destructive man living in a graveyard succumbed to a word of authority from Jesus. Persons were more important than animals as the demons went from this man into many pigs. A woman with a twelve-year bleeding disease was healed as she faithfully touched the hem of Jesus' garment. The synagogue leader’s (Jairus) daughter was raised back to life after briefly tasting death. Two blind men had restored sight as they had concomitant faith in Jesus' authority to heal. The blind could see and the mute could speak; surely God was present and Jesus was His Ambassador.

Pp 346-51  Jesus' ministry multiplied when He sent out the twelve to go two by two, replicating many of the same things Jesus did: preaching, healing, proclaiming the kingdom being upon the people.

King Herod, the titular Jewish monarch, was disturbed with these reports. Who was this man? It couldn't be John the Baptist (could it?) whom Herod had beheaded. John had spoken against Herod's murderous and adulterous practices. Herod toyed with John, then ultimately had him killed, so Herod would not be shown up at a party.

Jesus was distraught that John, His relative was dead. Jesus attempted to withdraw from a crowd to be replenished (He was human, after all). But the people streamed to Jesus and His compassion overcame His lack of stamina. He had five thousand families (likely 15,000+ people) fed with five loaves and two fish. His faith released God's power. Another incident with a storm and Peter on the water caused the disciples to realize that Jesus did deserve their trust. Soon after that, Jesus challenged the crowd to come to Him for spiritual trust, not merely meeting physical needs. He was the Bread of Life, a broken person bringing life to the world. Rather than asking questions about what 'eating and drinking Jesus' meant, people stopped following in droves. Would the twelve leave Jesus as well?

Fortunately, Peter acknowledged that there was nowhere else to go. Only Jesus was the Holy One, with words of eternal life. Do Jesus’ words make you go deeper with God or cause a pause in your trust?

Chapter Twenty-three

The week of June 24


Jesus Ministry Begins

From the time Jesus was 12 till 'about 30' the timeline of His life is silent. He likely led a small town existence in Nazareth of Galilee, northern Israel. He was nurtured by His parents, played with His siblings and learned the carpentry trade from His father (it is unknown whether Joseph was still alive during Jesus' ministry).

Meanwhile Jesus' relative John, only a few months older, grew in the hill country of Judah, southern Israel. He later was in the desert wilderness and then the area surrounding the Jordan River, eastern Israel. John's message from God came with boldness, more in line with the Old Testament prophets: Repent.

Pp 321-4  John's message was motivated by 'the Kingdom of God coming near'. He was not stylish nor was his diet something to emulate, but droves of people from southern Israel, including Jerusalem, came out. Many did confess their sins and were baptized in the Jordan. This was a controversial practice, because gentiles were to be baptized in coming to the Jewish religion, but Jews had never needed to be baptized. You can bet that the Jerusalem authorities wanted to know the authority under which John acted.
We can understand why God wanted the Jews to repent, by why be baptized?

Jesus appeared at the Jordan to be baptized by John. After John told Jesus that he, in fact, should be baptized by Jesus, Jesus told that it was proper for John to baptize Him. When Jesus was baptized, God’s Spirit came down on Him and the Father spoke of His love and pleasure in His Son (notice that though the word Trinity is not in the scripture but the concept is).
If Jesus identified with humanity by being baptized, even though He did not sin, why is it hard for believers to be baptized to identify with Jesus?

Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit and was tempted by Satan to trust in himself and not in His Father in Heaven. Jesus passed this testing and piloted dependence in God through the proper use of scripture and by trusting, not tempting God.
If God trusted His Son to be tested, but not beyond his ability, what does this mean about God testing us (1 Corinthians 10:13)? Why do we think God is against us when we are tested (James 1:12-18)?

John the baptizer continued to baptize and point people to God through Jesus. John would decrease in recognition while Jesus would increase. Jesus was 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world'. John was pointing to the One that all prophets had awaited, the Anointed One, Messiah. Even some of John’s disciples left him to follow Jesus.
Can you see why John may have felt a little disconsolate over this?

Pp 324-6  Jesus' followers would tell a friend or relative; Andrew brought his brother Peter. Jesus would challenge men to follow Him. This was a big thing to leave home because the men were needed to provide financially for their families.

While at a wedding, Jesus intervened in an awkward situation when the wine ran out. He turned several large jars, a total of over 120 gallons, into wine. Initially, only the banquet director knew this, but the news likely spread quickly when people tasted the quality of the wine.
Why was Jesus' first public miracle in this particular manner?

Pp 326-7  Jesus held private meetings to utilize people's needs as a means of describing Himself. Nicodemus was a strict member of the ruling council. Jesus told him that people need to be 'born again' and 'born of the Spirit' to enter God's kingdom. Jesus' word pictures did not translate into Nicodemus' experience. God wanted people to know He loved them so much that He 'gave' His Only Son, so that they may experience eternal life. Nicodemus would have three years to ponder this.

Pp 327-9  While many Galileans would bypass around Samaria to not be contaminated by religious half-breeds, Jesus directly went to Sychar for a divine appointment. In being asked for a cup of water, a woman saw a discrepancy; she was a woman and a Samaritan, the opposite of Jesus. Jesus used the word picture of water as an analogy to living water that He could offer. He ended the conversation by disclosing His identity to her. He understood her identity by telling her she had many husbands (and presumably was unfulfilled, needing this spiritual water). We are not told if she brought her man-friend, but she did bring the rest of the town, who then believed in Jesus for themselves. Conceptualize the townspeople, adorned in white, coming to the well. The fields were white for harvest.

Pp 329-31  Jesus had a profound healing ministry. There is nothing like meeting people in great physical need that would start a people movement. People with psychotic behavior had spirits removed from them. Peter's mother had a fever broken. This, and much of Jesus' ministry centered around Capernaum, Peter's hometown. People with skin diseases were healed, making them socially acceptable. A paralyzed man was healed in front of his friends and other pairs of eyes, who were impressed. Jesus tied this power to His power to forgiving sins. How could this be; only God could forgive sins. Jesus would heal common people and call regular sinners to follow Him, such as the disciple Matthew, a tax collector. Jesus was not looking for 'self-righteous' but God-convinced sinners, people who knew they needed God.

Pp 331-2  Jesus put human needs first. The Law was for humans, not humans for the Law. When a man was not allowed to be healed because it was the Sabbath day, Jesus had unalloyed anger. The Sabbath was made for mankind; so Jesus healed his lifelong shriveled hand. Healing was many times the springboard to His teaching.

Pp 332-3  Wherever Jesus stepped a crowd appeared. Sometimes these turned into extended times to tell about the kingdom, how to relate to others under the authority of the King. Jesus called twelve men to move from the follower-disciple status into the sent ones-apostle status. They were still learners, but now would be emissaries of Jesus, preaching and healing. Women were called to follow as well. They had been recipients of Jesus' ministry and helped to support the endeavors of the traveling ministry.

Pp 333-4  John the Baptist spoke the truth no matter what. He was arrested by Herod Antipas for publicly criticizing Herod after he murdered the husband of his future wife. Later John wondered if Jesus really was the true One sent by God. Instead of critiquing him, Jesus lauded John as the greatest man ever born and spoke that John was the forerunner prophet, the Elijah who was to come.

Chapter Twenty-two

The week of June 17


The Birth of the King

Malachi had been the last prophet to be heard. For 400 long years there were priests and local leaders,but no king and no prophet with God’s word. The Greeks with Alexander the Great succeeded the Persians in dominating the known world and then the Romans ruled with the Caesars. Israel showed a spirited fight during the times of the Maccabean revolt, but all of Israel yearned to throw off the yoke of Rome and have the peace of Messiah. As Paul would later write in Galatians: It was the fullness of time.

Pp 309-11  The apostle John in his Gospel describes the incarnation (God becoming flesh) as the Word becoming flesh. The Word of God, so long silent, was now a live human being as a baby. He was with God and was God at the same time, transversing time because 'He was in the beginning'. He was the Creator, Life-source, and Light of the world, coming from His Father and was His only Son. He would give the prerogative for humans to become children of God. His mission was to make God His Father known and explained.

His human name was Jesus, meaning God saves. God sent His angel to a female descendent of David (the new king must come from David), to tell her she would conceive and give birth to a son, the Son of the Most High. How would you have responded to this message?

Mary knew she was a virgin so she asked how this could be. The answer was: through the Holy Spirit. Now the Holy Spirit normally came upon prophets and warriors, not servant girls. Yet she lived by faith and glorified the Lord for choosing her.

Pp 311-13  How would you respond if you were Joseph, Mary's finance? Mary boldly told what the angel had said. Joseph understandably had a difficult time believing her and was going to quietly release her from their marital responsibility when the angel confirmed Mary's story. This and over 300 other Old Testament prophesies were confirmed in the life of Jesus. So Joseph took the pregnant Mary as his wife.

The Caesar of that time was Augustus and he set an order that all people should return to their ancestral home for a census. Joseph set out for Bethlehem (remember David had shepherded sheep there) with a great-with-child Mary. What an uncomfortable ride! Arriving in Bethlehem they found no room but a makeshift barn and an animal feeder. Their firstborn son was delivered in these humble surroundings as God had touched down. The manger was his first bed on earth. Even more common folk were notified of the arrival. Shepherds, so untrustworthy that they could not testify in court, would witness God's music with light show and find this simple setting in the barn. Why is it so important that God's Son came to regular people? As in the Old Testament, God weaved together difficult circumstances to accomplish is aims.

Pp 313-15  Sometime before Jesus became 2yo, several esoteric men from the East came looking for this child to whom God directed them. Jesus was that person. They bore gifts and gave accolades. One problem developed when the puppet-Jewish King Herod said he also wanted to honor the child. When these men skipped town, Herod slaughtered a couple dozen young children to make sure for himself that the chosen child was dead. The angel had alerted Joseph so they already had escaped to Egypt. Isn't it interesting that the Savior would again be called out of Egypt? Once Herod had died, Joseph took his family to Nazareth where he had made his living in carpentry.

Pp 315-16  Jesus lived an obedient life to his parents. He made the travels with them to festivals including as a 12yo to Jerusalem for Passover, an 160 mile round trip. After beginning the trek home, Jesus' parents realized he was missing and frantically backtracked to the Temple. Here they found him knowledgably in dialogue with the teachers (he would later do more of that). Everyone was impressed with his insight. Jesus' response to his parents was that they should have known he was about his Father's business. Though he was the Son of God, Jesus would grow in every aspect of learning life.

With this dramatic debut, Jesus peaked interest in what he would become. God sent His Son not merely for His entry, but for the reason of His purposeful exit.

Chapter Twenty-one

The week of June 10


Rebuilding the Walls

For 93 years following the initial return to Judah, the exiles continued to return. They usually followed a particular person who had orders from the king to refurbish an area, like the temple or the broken-down walls. Two of these leaders are documented in books of the Old Testament.

PP 291-4  With Artaxerxes as King of Persia a noted teacher of the Law, Ezra received permission to take an entourage to Judah. Artaxerxes had favor on him and granted him ability to bring people who would be profitable to him as well as silver and gold from the royal treasury to rebuild the temple artifacts. So Ezra departed. Why do pagan kings continue to bless God’s people to leave for home?

Ezra completed the temple but found culture intruding into the resident people as they were marrying pagan spouses and worshipped their gods. Ezra's demonstrative, repentant prayer led the people of Israel to repent. When family life becomes compromised, the people leave God.

Pp 294-5  Thirteen years later Nehemiah, the king's cupbearer was in Susa (where Esther had been). While the temple was replenished, the wall surrounding the city was broken down, leaving Jerusalem's inhabitants vulnerable to marauding bands. Nehemiah wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed. He pled with God, confessed his sins, and asked for success in approaching the king. Nehemiah, like Ezra, received permission and a blessing with finances and authority to complete the travel and project.

Pp 295-9  After arriving in Jerusalem, Nehemiah surveyed the perimeter of the city and then challenged the Jewish leaders to take responsibility to rebuild the wall. Rivaling authorities Sanballet and Tobiah were threatened by this Jewish initiative and set out to undermine it. In response Nehemiah prayed and set a guard.

Nehemiah encouraged the people and divided the work with proximity to where people lived. They built in rotating shifts, each with a weapon at their side, ready to respond at the sound of the trumpet. Amidst the threats, smear campaign and hard work, the wall was completed in 52 days, a stupendous feat. God did his part in protecting and the people did their part of persevering in hard work. Why does it take both of these parts to make things happen?

Pp 299-301 As the giant gates were hung, the people gathered to celebrate and hear the reading of the Law from Ezra. The people were touched by the reading of the forgotten Law and began weeping. Nehemiah encouraged them to rejoice because of the position God had for them. Mourning was turned into rejoicing. Now the people were truly home, with their temple and the safety of the rebuilt walls.

Pp 301-4  Malachi was called by God to be the last prophet of that era. He challenged those living in Jerusalem to live holy, pure lives; by being faithful and not divorcing their wives. Don't rob God of tithes and offerings. A person will come in the spirit of Elijah to bring holiness to the people. But it would be four silent centuries before this happened.

How are the physical rebuilding of the Temple and walls a symbolic parallel to the spiritual removal of rubble and rebuilding of our lives in Christ. What needs to be removed and renewed in your own life?

Chapter Twenty

The week of June 3


The Queen of Beauty and Courage

All the people of Judah did not return to their land when the exiles came home beginning in 538 BC. Some of them lived in servile roles under the domain of ever-conquering kings. Xerxes ruled over 127 provinces from India to Cush, all from his throne in Susa. Watch to see how this kingdom was affected and almost permanently affected the Jewish people.

PP 275-9 Kings often are known for their gratuitous self-love. With his wealth and prosperity on display for half the year, Xerxes drew this time to a conclusion with a week-long banquet with nothing reserved. His Queen Vashti was summoned to parade her beauty in an ode to himself. Only Vashti refused to participate. His ego dashed, Xerxes needed to decide his own response. His counselors told that the women of the kingdom would be disrespectful if she was not banished from the king. We don't know if the women became respectful, but many young virgin women did become desirous of being the next queen. Let the beauty pageant begin. Unfortunately, women were treated as chattel and had few civil rights. So the women were vying to be objects of attention and to respond to the whim of the king.

As a harem was conscripted (remember that this was a social step up for most women) a young Jewess named Esther became a part. She was put through the year-long beauty treatment and listened to her cousin Mordecai concerning a strategy for being chosen. A big part was to not reveal that she was a Jew. Finally Esther's evening with the king came and went and she won the lottery! She had favor with the king and the people. This story seems almost silly to be in the Bible; a beauty pageant for a self-serving king. Why would Esther participate in this? But this was bigger than Esther and Mordecai. Have you been in events that only made sense when you looked backward? Name one.

PP 279-82 Mordecai sat by the gate of the city and both alerted the throne of a possible assassination attempt and refused to honor Haman (who had been elevated by the King) by bowing at the gate. Haman set out to annihilate the Jews because of Mordecai's insubordination. The king gave authorization that Haman should send out a decree to be enacted later.

Mordecai is in anguish with this prospect. The Jews in all the lands grieved as well. Mordecai in a note implored Esther to plead to the king. Yet if she did so without his requesting her, she could be killed. And she had not seen the king for a month. Mordecai further warned Esther that she was also included in the decree. God could cause a rescue from another way, but that she had perhaps come to her royal position for 'such a time as this'.

Esther knew that the prior Queen, Vashti, has already been banished. Mordecai and the Jews would fast from food for three days, and then she would go to the king unannounced. 'If she perishes, then she will perish'.

PP 282-5 When approaching the king by faith, Esther was well-received and asked to give her request. Her request was a personal dinner with the king and Haman. After a first banquet she offered to prepare a second banquet for the two of them. Haman was full of himself for such good fortune. He even took the advice of setting up the pole it impale his nemesis Mordecai.

It is just the way God acts when He awoke the king that evening and had the record of his reign read to him (it was all about Xerxes). He discovered that Mordecai was not rewarded for his good deed of reporting an impending assassination. Who was presently in the royal court to honor Mordecai? It just so happened that Haman had entered to ask the king to impale Mordecai. So Haman in humiliation was the one to lead Mordecai through the streets, proclaiming his value.

When Haman arrived home, it was time for the 'party' with Esther and the king. Esther divulged that her life and the lives of her Jewish people were in jeopardy from Haman’s scheming. Haman was killed in their place and Esther received his estate while Mordecai received the ring with the king's seal.

PP 285-9 While Esther & Mordecai were saved, all the people throughout the extended kingdom were at risk to be slaughtered because of Haman's decree. Esther took an additional risk and petitioned the king to reverse the decree. He agreed to do so and had Mordecai send out the new decree with the king's seal. The Jews of these cities retaliated and killed 75,000 of their enemies.

Purim is the Jewish celebration that is remembered every year when grieving was turned into joy as the faith of Esther and Mordecai and the faithfulness of God was rewarded.

Name some character traits of Esther and Mordecai.
Why can we trust that God is working behind the scenes?
Why did the characters respond in faith and not give up?

Chapter Nineteen

The week of May 27


The Return Home

Jeremiah had prophesied seventy years of exile and that is what the length of time turned out to be. But what would the return look like? What we imagine from our childhood becomes something less in our maturity. But anything back in the homeland would be better than Israelites being away from home.

PP 263-6 God works on several sides of an equation: He disciplines His people by defeating them by the hands of foreigners as a consequence of their disobedience, then He releases them for home through no actions on their part, but only because of His loving kindness endures forever. In the first year of his reign, Persian King Cyrus issued a proclamation for the Israelites to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple for worship. Tell me God is not involved in this. The settlers would receive assistance (including temple artifacts) from those who sent them and the ones who had stayed in Jerusalem. So 42,000+ people made the trek to their beloved land.

After resettling, they came together to begin the process of rebuilding the temple. As they pieced together the altar, they sacrificed their first burnt offering. The cornerstone was reset, the priestly clothing and instruments were in use, and their song resounded: He is Good; His Love toward Israel endures forever." As the foundation was laid the emotion of the moment was palpable. "No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise." God requests our worship even before the work is done.

There is indeed no place like home. The familiarity of the sights, sounds, smells sealed the moment. 'We are home; God is with us.'

PP 266-73 Within two months of the second year of Darius’ reign, the word of God came three times, twice through Haggai and then through Zechariah. Certainly the temple would be rebuilt. But a future was assured in which Jerusalem would be the place where God would be for the world.

There would be enemies from without and within. But encouragement should reign, because God was being honored.

Why did God continue to rescue His people when they did not fully understand their own wrong?

Why does this rescue and mercy continue as waves upon us? Relate a personal instance in your own life.

Some Israelites were at home while others were in distant lands. One in particular, Esther, would become a witness that would save her race from annihilation.

Chapter Eighteen

The week of May 20


Daniel in Exile

Daniel and three men were expatriates who had been exiled to Babylon from Judah with many others. They were chosen to be acculturated into the Babylonian ways in order to serve the king. These men went through an amazing journey of made decisions.

Pp 249-50  The foursome of young Judeans were being made to serve the Babylonians. This was not dissimilar to Joseph and the Egyptians. Part of their regimen was to eat and drink to be healthy. Daniel wanted a vegetarian regimen and offered to have a comparison of complexion after ten days. Daniel and the three showed themselves healthier and had more understanding with wisdom, so they entered the king's service after three years.

Put yourself in the shoes of these men. Everything was taken away and they were now living after another’s whim, not their own dreams. Have you been put into a regimen with which you disagreed? How was it resolved?

Pp 250-3  King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream he wanted interpreted. But his wise men needed to know the dream first so they could attempt to tell him what it meant. The king could not remember the dream and, in frustration, said that all wise men would die without the telling of the dream and its meaning. Daniel and the three were also slated for death. Following a vision in which God showed the dream, Daniel first praised God, then asked to be brought to the King. Daniel gave credit that only God (the Hebrew God) could reveal these mysteries. How would you respond under the threat of death? Clinging to God in difficult times is a major theme of the Scripture.

Pp 253-4  Daniel later spoke that the King's dream was about a large statue consisting of four sections of different qualities and material. The most precious was a golden head that represented the king. Three other parts represented successive kingdoms that would conquer each previous kingdom. We now know that these represented the Medo-Persians, the Greek empire under Alexander the Great, and the Roman empire. It is amazing that God used Daniel's deciphering of a pagan king's dream to predict future history. Daniel and the three (like Joseph) were well rewarded with more responsibility for their prowess.

Pp 254-6  The King built a ninety foot image and demanded obeisance of his subjects to bow to the image. The Three knew this violated Ten Commandment number two and would not do it. Their answer to the king was classic: Our God is able to save us, but even if he doesn't we will not serve your gods (Daniel 3:16-18). The king defied their defiance and threw them in a burning furnace. Others were burned up handling the furnace but the Three survived the ordeal without a burn or even smoky clothes. The king realized the viability of their God and ordered Him to be honored.

Pp 256-60  Daniel interpreted another dream about the king's becoming like a animal and a further one with a body-less hand writing doom on a wall. Daniel was later thrown into a lion's den for violating another king's edict of not worshipping any god but the king. In accepting the consequences he accepted God's protection and remained unscathed. This was unlike his accusers who were thrown to these same lions. Reflect on how God uses all things in our lives, including dreams, to work together for good.

The themes of a few people stepping up to serve God and the consequences of serving him in a hostile environment keep coming up. How is this true in our own world?

Pp 260-1  Amidst the travail of seventy years of exile (would it become 400 years like in Egypt?), the Israelites heard the message from Jeremiah: plant your trees, trust in God, He will return your people…I know the plans I have for you; plans for good, not evil. Though many from Judah died in captivity, how was this prediction a solace to those who remained?

Chapter Seventeen

The week of May 13


The Kingdoms' Fall

Judah in the southern part of Israel was the only remaining kingdom. For a little over a century it continued its downward spiral of wrong choices, empty gods, and bad kings. One such king was Manasseh, who reigned 55 years.

Pp 231-3  They say that insanity is doing again and again what has not worked before. Manasseh rebuilt the high places and altars to Baal. He even built these altars in the Temple of the Living God. He pursued what we would call new age religion and even sacrificed one of his own sons. Sincerity off-course only leads in a wrong direction. When a leader leads in the wrong direction, the people have to determine if they would follow. Unfortunately they did follow by doing more evil than the nations they had displaced.

Manasseh was the cause and the effect was that he was captured and taken to Assyria. He repented during his imprisonment and the Lord restored him. Why is God open to people turning back to Him? Why should we not live as if we could rely on God’s openness to accept repentance at a moments notice? Manasseh’s son Amon is an example of someone who never came around.

Pp 233-4  Josiah was a anomaly in a series of evil kings. He was a good king who renewed and reformed the Temple and Judah. The Book of the Law was rediscovered (there was so much evil that they had not realized it was missing) and God was revered for 31 years.

But Kings Jehoahaz, Jehoikim, Jehoiachin continued with evil reigns. Eventually the latter was taken in exile to Babylon. The Temple was decimated and only the poor were left in the land.

Pp 234-7  When hopelessness reigns, God raises up a prophet, in this case, Elijah in Babylon. After a stirring vision of God’s glory, Elijah was emboldened to speak to the rebellious Israelites. Disaster in terms of death or captivity was warned. But the people did not listen.

Pp 237-40  Jeremiah the prophet was raised up to speak for God in Jerusalem. He was told he was chosen even before he was born and God’s words would be in his mouth. His tears represented God’s broken heart for His people. The people had forsaken God and dug their own water pots that could not hold water. How representative of so many generations. They would reap destruction for leaving God. Why is it hard to believe that when we leave God our biggest enemy is ourselves?

Pp 241-3  King Zedekiah was as evil as any king. He would not be under any yoke, including that of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. But God predicted that Jerusalem was doomed and its people killed or taken into captivity. And so it happened, with the Temple left in ruins.

Pp 243-7 Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel foresaw a time or restoration. Jeremiah spoke of sins and lawless deeds remembered no more. Ezekiel spoke of a new heart and new spirit, through God’s own Spirit, within each believer. 

Chapter Sixteen the week of May 6

The Beginning of the End

The northern and southern kingdoms of Israel (including Samaria) and Judah had drifted apart. Prophets had been sent by God to draw them back to Himself and ultimately together. But the call fell on deaf ears. Each of the kings outdid their own father in evil.

PP 220-1  While the details show one king finally succumbed to a foreign invader, the facts show Israel had long ago left the only True God, the One Who had brought them out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. God had assured them through Samuel that having an earthly king would preclude them from trusting the Heavenly King. So Israel went into new bondage in Assyria, 722 BC, with most people never returning to the Promised Land. The ten northern tribes became lost. Just consider God’s broken heart that the state of affairs had come to this.

PP 221-4  The field commander from Assyria challenged the leaders of Judah that their fighting was all for naught. The power of Assyria would wipe out Judah as they had Israel. King Hezekiah was taunted at his own palace. Instead of recoiling, Hezekiah sought God through prayer and asked the prophet Isaiah what God had revealed. God put a boundary around Jerusalem and killed 185,000 of the enemy warriors. We are also told God gave Hezekiah fifteen extra years of living during his illness. How have you responded when God has ‘spared’ you, like He spared Hezekiah from devastation and illness?

PP 224-8   The prophet Isaiah spoke powerfully into Judah, with visions of God’s holiness in inapproachable light. God was Almighty and Awesome and would have His way, even with belligerent and defiant people. Even if Judah fought against God’s ways, they would lose. Why do we see God as persistently for us when things are good, but fail to remember He is Holy and against our sin, when He disciplines us like a Father?

Yet God’s compassion was legion; He would never forsake His own, any more than a mother would forsake her own child. This love would go beyond Judah so that all would know that the Lord is their Savior and Redeemer. So the failure of Israel and Judah led to many other entering God’s kingdom.

PP 228-30  This God compassion was a portend of things to come. Isaiah 9, 11, 52 & 53 described Someone as a wounded healer…the Messiah Who lives the Life but is punished while He serves. He would be an offering for sin (atonement), as our iniquity would be laid on Him (substitutionary sacrifice); He was cut off from life (killed) but would see the light of life and be satisfied (resurrection). He would justify many (declare righteous), and bear their iniquities. How can anyone read this detailed description and not recognize the marked resemblance to Jesus of Nazareth?

So the northern kingdom is fallen and the people are permanently exiled. In a little over a century, the southern kingdom will unfortunately follow them in abandonment of the Living God.

Chapter 15                               the week of April 29

God’s Messengers

After the division of Israel to a northern and southern kingdom, the situation continued to deteriorate as their kings and the people did not follow God. We have already had generals, then judges, then kings to speak God’s words. Here, various prophets were raised up to speak God’s message to these kings. God was always caring for His people to draw them back to Himself. These people mostly did not listen.

PP 203-6  Elijah was a prophet mightily used in the northern kingdom of Israel. He challenged King Ahab that God said there was not to be dew or rain until God commanded it to happen. Elijah then went into hiding and the ravens provided his daily bread and meat. Have you had a situation when God gave food and drink when you had none?

Elijah challenged King Ahab the draw all of Israel to come to Mount Carmel. There he saw himself as the only prophet of God against Baal’s 450 prophets. The contest began with the pagan prophets attempting to call fire down on a sacrifice. All day they were futile in their efforts. After taunting them (“shout louder…maybe your gods are asleep”), Elijah proceeded to build an altar of sacrifice and doused it with much water. He prayed to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and called fire down, consuming the sacrifice. The people gave credence to the living God. Then Elijah and the prophets seized and killed. This led to God’s releasing the rain that had been desperately needed for three years. Most of us do not live to see a demonstration from God like this, winning over overt evil. Try to imagine being a witness to this power of God.

Pp 206-7  The Queen Jezebel would have none of this. She personally vowed to have Elijah killed. And Elijah ran away; God again provided. Why are many of our greatest successes followed by the threat of defeat?

In a conversation with God, Elijah heard that the Lord would be passing by. He was not in the powerful wind, the earthquake, or the fire. God was in a still small voice, a gentle whisper. Why is it that we desire dramatic actions and voice from God, when He often speaks in the silence of our own thoughts? Elijah was to anoint another king and be assured that there were 7000 faithful Israelites.

PP 207-9  Elijah put his cloak on Elisha to designate him as his prophet successor. Elisha was at his side incessantly. Finally, Elijah made a dramatic departure by being picked up and then transported to heaven in a chariot of fire. The remaining godly prophets saw the effect on Elisha as he served in the same power from God as had Elijah. This is one of the few good transitions from one to another. Why was this important for Elijah to initiate the process and for Elisha to follow?

PP 209-11  Elisha also did many attesting miracles to authenticate God. One of the most amazing was the raising of the son of a mother whom he had predicted would bear a child. We don’t always know God’s timing, but these signs did validate God in a dark age. As we would consider our present age a dark time, why do you think God does not do this today?

PP 213-17  Other prophets brought God’s message to the divided kingdoms. Among them, Amos was a shepherd who was called by God as a prophet to northern Israel. He focused on justice and mercy. Hosea preached as a prophet to southern Judah. He was told by God to marry the prostitute Gomer and pursue her as she ran from him. This was an analogy of God’s steadfast love toward Judah, even while they ran from Him.

These prophets saw very little fruit of ministry as they continued to do the hard things God called them to do in the midst of an evil generation. As we are so success oriented, how may we be more persistent by showing up and speaking out toward the people not living for God?

Chapter Fourteen                                 the week of April 22

A Kingdom Torn in Two

Solomon was about to die. God had told him that if he followed God in obedience his lineage would be on the throne of Israel. He chose not to follow God. So Jeroboam, whom God had designated to be king, had fled to Egypt. When Solomon died, Jeroboam returned. Rehoboam, one of Solomon’s sons was crowned king. It became the beginning of a divided kingdom.

Pp 193-95  Solomon had put a heavy tax burden on the people of Israel and had becoming wealthy as a result. Jeroboam represented most of Israel in asking for relief from this heavy taxation from King Rehoboam. Solomon’s former advisors counseled him to relieve the burden and gain the trust of the people. The king rejected that advice and listened to his younger friends, giving an even greater burden to authenticate that he was in control. The eleven tribes returned to the North and made Jeroboam their king. Rehoboam had only the tribe of Judah to rule.

In the change of an administration there is only one chance to set a tone. Wanting to make an impression, why do leaders tend to make the harshest choice?

Pp 195-7  Now Israel of the North and Judah to the South were at war. Rehoboam was warned by a man of God to not go to battle, and this time he listened. Meanwhile, Jeroboam realized that his people would be going to festivals in Jerusalem and that they would be tempted to give allegiance to the other king. So he set up a golden calf in Bethel and Dan to worship. He set up opposing festivals, shrines and priests. The people obliged by committing apostasy against the living God. A prophesy was made concerning Rehoboam’s downfall at the hand of Josiah.

 Sometimes self-protection becomes the rationale for creating a false religion. In our world, how have false cults and pop religion provided security for the originators and spiritual slavery to the people?

Pp 197-8  The son of Jeroboam of the North was gravely ill. Jeroboam sent his wife to learn from a prophet of his son’s future. It was told that this son, the only good one, would die and the kingdom would be taken from Jeroboam, leaving no surviving sons. Sometimes God intervenes; sometimes he allows us to reap what we sow.

Pp 198-9  In Judah of the South the situation was just as bad. They followed the nations and built pagan high places with practices formerly removed from the land. The treasures of the temple and palace were confiscated by a rival king. And warfare became ongoing between Judah and Israel. Rehoboam, then his son Abijah died as spiritual and political failures. The two kingdoms were rivals at how much they could disobey God.

Pp 199-202  Asa, King of Judah, became a bright spot in this marred picture. He set to reverse the plague of paganism, tearing down heathen shrines and even deposing his pagan grandmother. His righteous behavior lasted two decades.

By and large evil kings dominated the landscape of both kingdoms, each seeming to outdo each other in blaspheming God in their words and actions. It is truly remarkable how patient God was.

Now think about David and Solomon. All was in their hands to perpetuate good for generations to Israel. They could have been the city on the hill. But the slippery slope happened when they did not completely follow God, till their descendents were completely not following God.

How do we break this descent with our descendents? God is shown as kind and holy in this chapter. Why are we attracted to the first attribute and we ignore the second? What is at-risk in our imbalance?

Chapter 13                           the week of April 15

The King who had it all

David had lived a full life in his seventy years. He had been a shepherd, a military leader, a king in waiting, a person on the run from Saul, from his own son Absalom, and the enemies of Israel. Of course, he had also been a sinner, but one who repented to God. He would then die and leave his legacy with his son from Bathsheba, Solomon.

PP 175-6  David charged his son Solomon to carry on a righteous kingship. The message was the same perpetuated to every generation: Honor God and He will honor you. What is unwritten in The Story is that one of his other sons, Adonijah, also contended for the throne (1 Kings 1).

PP 176-8  God asked Solomon what was his desire, anything he wanted. When Solomon asked for wisdom alone, God granted this and along with wealth and honor. Of course, there is always a question of how people deal with wealth and prestige. Why is wisdom more precious than wealth or fame?

Solomon’s wisdom was shown in how he adjudicated the case of two women who each claimed a child was their own son.  The outcome gave the son to the rightful woman, and news of the king’s wisdom spread throughout the kingdom. We have seen the downfall of
our own Presidents for the lack of common sense and wisdom. Why is wisdom so difficult to find and hard to live by?

PP 178-83  Solomon started as a man for all seasons. Using his wisdom he expanded Israel’s boundaries the farthest it ever existed and wrote prolific proverbs. These proverbs dealt with common sense issues like money, friendship, work, and life. What are insights you glean from some of these sayings?

PP 183-9  Solomon took seriously his calling to build the Temple that his father David had devised. It was only 2700 square feet, the size of a large American home, but it required close to 184,000 people to construct it. It was ornate and lavish, with symbolism covering every inch. The dedication of the Temple was one of the grandest days in Israel’s history. God was hailed for His goodness and enduring love. Fire came from the sky to consume the sacrifices. And the charge to the people including blessings and cursings was given again. With these times of remembrance, God was reminding Israel over and over again. Why did they continually forget? Why do we forget?

PP 189-92  Everyone, both foreign and domestic, gave financial tribute to Solomon. He lived in an opulent place and had no physical needs. He also lived in a brash way by having 700 wives and 300 concubines. Many of these women were from foreign descent with foreign gods that turned Solomon away from the true living God. So here we have a remarkable man who had everything going for him. He wrote the Proverbs and Song of Solomon, wise sayings. But he also wrote Ecclesiastes, speaking to the meaningless of life…having it all but living life itself as a hollow, godless existence.
What a sad state of affairs. The one with the most promise is lost without relying on God. This is a lesson for us to learn: if we don’t have a heart after God like David, we might end up like Solomon…having it all but finding life meaningless. Does this ring true?